Container construction



Jan. 2, 1962 R. E. BAUER CONTAINER CONSTRUCTION 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 18, 1957 INVENTOR. ROBE/e7 5 4 Jan. 2, 1962 R. E. BAUER CONTAINER CONSTRUCTION 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 18, 1957 w w Aw a P k yr 5 6 7 4 m E n a J J 4 f, mu M I||l||L|lI|ll||l E m 3 J fa m p a m M E A Tw M w W a M a L f f x V a h M a w Y 2, a f B y IJIFIIIII w m w um i a; 5 h 4 w ll 4, l|| Mm villi! Ill 1 1Illl 6 3 m 2 m a TH m/h a A Q i 2/ a a n w 4w $7 7 f 5 8 m wfwlirlwiiill TWIE a 7 a L @w m 2, i M Ll i I I I I Ill Jan. 2, 1962 'R. E. BAUER CONTAINER CONSTRUCTION 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 18, 1957 Jan. 2, 1962 R. E. BAUER CONTAINER CONSTRUCTION 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Nov. 18, 1957 United States Patent Ofifice Patented Jan. 2, 1962 $315,439 C ONTAINER CGNSTRUCTISN Robert E. Bauer, 8185 Flourtown Ave., Vyndmoor, Pa. Filed Nov. 18, 1957, Ser. No. 697,762 1 Ciaim. ((31. 229-45) This invention relates generally to an improved container construction and embraces a novel blank from which the improved container is adapted to be formed. This invention is a continuation-in-part of my co-pending application Serial Number 670,812, filed July 9, 1957, now abandoned.

While the particular embodiment of the present invention, which is illustrated in the drawings and which will be described hereinafter in greater detail, has been primarily developed and employed for use in the packaging of ice cream and substances of similar consistency, and will be described hereinafter with particular reference thereto, it is understood that the subject invention is capable of many varied applications, all of which are intended to be comprehended herein.

As is well known in the packaging art, substantial problems arise in the packaging of food products such as ice cream, and other substances having similar buik firmness and viscosity. For example, it is often desirable for the ultimate consumer of packaged ice cream to remove the same in slices, rather than by spooning. Heretofore, the slicing of ice cream and the like in its container involved a cumbersome, time-consuming, and sloppy procedure, if at all possible, and usually required destructive multilation of the container so that it was impossible to efficiently reclose and reuse the container.

In addition, considerable difficulty has been experienced in maintaining the container of such contents effectively sealed both against leakage and external contamination, while affording ease in opening and reclosing the container.

It is therefore one object of the present invention to provide a container of the character described which overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art, is capable of quick and easy opening to such a degree as affords convenient access to the contents for slicing and removing the latter, and is adapted to be easily reclosed to substantially its original condition for effectively sealing the contents during additional storage or transit. Further, these advantageous features accrue without destruction or multilation of the container.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a simple and economical one-piece blank which is adapted to be formed by packaging equipment of generally conventional construction into the container of the invention.

More particularly, the present invention contemplates the provision of a container having the advantageous characteristics mentioned in the preceding paragraph, which includes novel releasable locking means, structural improvements more positively sealing the container against the entrance of foreign matter, and novel structure which eliminates the possibility of the contents being contaminated by adhesive of the container.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a container of the type described which is extremely simple in construction, staunch and durable in use, may be made of lighter weight board than conventional cartons designed for the same purpose, is neat and attractive in appearance, and which is adapted to be manufactured and sold at a reasonable cost.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings, which form a material part of this disclosure.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope will be indicated by the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a top perspective view illustrating the container of the present invention in its erected, closed condition;

FIGURE 2 is a top perspective view illustrating container of FIGURE 1 in an open condition of use;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional elevational view taken substantially along the line 3-3 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a bottom plan view of the container of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a rear elevational view of the container of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 6 is a plan view showing a blank adapted to be employed in formation of the container of the present invention;

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view illustrating a modified form of container of the present invention;

FIGURE 8 is a schematic perspective view illustrating one corner of the box with the cover in its open position and the corresponding corner of the body portion of the box in a position immediately prior to completely forming and closing the box;

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of one corner portion of the box of the embodiment of FIGURE 7 with the lid in a partially closed position;

FIGURE 10 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view similar to FIGURE 9 with the lid in its fully closed position;

FIGURE 11 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse sectional View taken along line 1111, FIGURE 10, illustrating the means for locking the cover in position;

FIGURE 12 is a sectional view taken along line 12-12, FIGURE 11, illustrating the locking tab in a position engaged with the cover the box; and

FIGURE 13 is a plan view of a blank adapted to be employed in the formation of the container of the embodi ment shown in FIGURES 7 to 12, inclusive.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and specifically to FIGURES 1-5 thereof, the container or carton illustrated therein is preferably fabricated entirely of waxed cardboard, or the like, but may be formed of any suitable stiff, bendable sheet material.

The carton or container includes a generally rectangular bottom wall 10, to the front edge of which is hingedly connected, by a fold or crease 11, a generally rectangular front wall 12, which is substantially laterally coextensive with the bottom wall and normally extends upward from the latter. A dust flap 13 is hingedly connected to the upper edge of the front wall 12 by a fold 14 and is substantially laterally coextensive with the front wall, preferably tapering slightly in the direction away from its hinged connection.

Extending upward from each side edge of the bottom wall 10 and hingedly connected to the latter by a fold or crease 16 is a generally rectangular side wall 17. The side walls 17 are substantially identical, being only inverted in configuration and are each approximately coextensive in the forward and rearward direction with the bottom wall. The side walls 17 normally extend generally upward from the bottom wall 10 and are each provided with a front securement flap 18 hingedly connected to the front edge of the respective side wall by a fold or crease 19. The securement flaps 18 are substantially vertically coextensive with their respective side walls 17 at the hinged juncture 19 and may taper in the direction from the hinged juncture to their distal or free edge 20. A generally vertically extending crease or score 21 is formed in each front securement flap 18 located in spaced relation the between its hinged connection 19 and distal edge 20 and extending vertically to terminate at the upper and lower flap edges. By this construction, each front flap 18 is subdivided into a proximate portion 22 adjacent to the fold 19 and a distal portion 23 adjacent to the edge 20.

In the erected condition of the container, the front fiaps 18 extend from their respective upstanding side walls 17 toward each other, best seen in FIGURE 1, externally of the front wall 12 and in facing engagement with the latter; and further, the proximate front flap portions 22 are secured in their facing engagement with the front wall 12 by suitable adhesives, while the distal front flap portions 23 remain unsecured to the front wall and thereby define pull tabs for purposes appearing more fully hereinafter.

A dust flap 26 may be provided on the upper edge of each side wall 17, being substantially forwardly and rearwardly coextensive therewith and hingedly connected thereto by a fold or crease 27. The side-wall dust flaps 26 may be substantially rectangular, as illustrated, and each preferably has its front edge substantially in the same plane as the front edge or hinged connection 19 of the adjacent side wall 17. Provided on the front edge 28 of each dust flap 26, spaced from the respective sideflap hinged connection 27, is a finger or extension 29 which is preferably flexibly and resiliently connected to its respective side flap by a fold line or score 30. In the closed condition of the subject container, as illustrated in FIGURES 1, 3, 4, and 5, the side dust flaps 26 normally extend inward toward each other from their adjacent side wall 17 overlying the adjacent portions of the front-wall dust fiap 15 and in addition to preventing contamination of the product carried by the container and preventing the contents of the container from leaking out of the container also serve to strengthen and provide rigidity to the walls of the container. In this condition, the fingers 29 each depend from the forward edge 28 of its respective dust flap 26 exteriorly of and overlying the adjacent front flap 18, all for a purpose appearing presently.

Hingedly connected to the rear edge of each side wall 17, as by a generally vertical fold line or crease 33, is a rear flap 34. The rear flaps 34 may be substantially identical to the front flaps 18, each being substantially vertically coextensive with the adjacent side wall at its juncture therewith and tapering in the direction away from the juncture toward its distal or free edge 35. In addition, each of the rear flaps 34 may be provided with a generally vertically extending score or crease 36 located in spaced relation between its hinged connection 33 and distal edge 35 and terminating at the upper and lower flap edges to thereby subdivide each rear securement flap 34 into an inner or proximate portion 37 and an outer or distal portion 38 corresponding to the proximate portions 22 and distal portions 23 of the front securement flaps 18.

A back wall 40 of generally rectangular configuration substantially congruent to that of the front wall 12 is hingedly connected to the rear edge of the bottom wall 10, as by a fold line 41 and extends upward from the bottom wall in rearwardly spaced, facing relation with respect to the normally upstanding front wall. Thus, in the erected condition of the container, the back wall 40 extends laterally between rearward regions of the side walls 17; and, the rear securement flaps 34 extend from their hinged side-wall connections 33 toward each other externally of the back wall, see FIGURE 5. The inner or proximate portion 37 of each rear securement flap 34 is preferably adhesively secured in facing engagement with the outer face of the back wall 40 and the distal rear flap-portions 38 remain unsecured or free of the rear wall so that the rear flaps serve to secure the rear wall in its upstanding relation while the distal flap portions serve as pull tabs for detaching the flaps from the rear wall, as will appear more fully hereinafter.

A generally rectangular top wall or lid 44, substantially congruent to the bottom wall 10, is hingedly connected to the upper edge of the rear or back wall 40 by a crease or fold 45 and is laterally coextensive with the back wall. Thus, the top wall 44 is swingable about its hinged connection 45 into and out of its closed condition of FIGURES 1, 3, 4, and 5 spacedly overlying the bottom wall 16.

Depending from the front edge of the top wall 44 when the latter is in its closed position, and connected to the top wall by a fold or crease 46, is a generally rectangular front-skirt section 47. More specifically, the front-skirt section is laterally coextensive with the top wall 44 and depends from the latter closely adjacent to and exteriorly of the front wall 12 and front securement flaps 1 8. A pair of side-skirt sections 48, each substantially forwardly and rearwardly coextensive with the top wall 44, depend from opposite side edges of the top wall exteriorly of and closely adjacent to the side walls 17, being connected to the top wall by forwardly and rearwardly extending creases 49. Connected to the front edge of each side-skirt section 48 by a crease 50 is a glue flap 51 which is adhesively secured in facing engagement with the inner surface of the front-skirt section 47. That is, the glue flaps or tabs 51 of the side-skirt sections 49 extend laterally inward toward each other and are each adhesively secured to the adjacent inner-surface portion of the front-skirt section 47. In this manner, the side-skirt sections 48 are secured in a generally right-angle relation with respect to the front-skirt section 47, so that the sideand front-skirt sections combine to define a skirt depending from the top wall or lid 44 and extending about its side and front edges. As the top wall 44 is swung into and out of its closed position, the skirt 47, 48 operates to snugly receive and disengage from the side walls 17 and front wall 12, in the manner of a telescoping lid. In order to enhance the snug reception by the skirt 47, 48 of the front and side walls 12 and 17, the side-skirt sections 48 may be scored or creased, as at 53, preferably extending diagonally rearward and downward to stiffen and resist flaring of the side-skirt sections. In addition, the front-skirt section 47 may be scored or creased along a pair of laterally spaced, vertical lines 54, each located adjacent to an underlying free front-flap edge 20 to depress the central portion of the front-skirt section in ward toward the front wall 12 between the front securement flaps. The thus-depressed central portion of the front-skirt section 47 may be further scored, as by a horizontal crease 55 extending laterally between the creases 54 and a central vertical crease 56 to insure positive closing and sealing engagement with the front wall 12, as may be seen in FIGURE 3.

It will now be appreciated that the fingers 29 of the side dust flaps 26 depend interiorly of the lid when the latter is closed, being located on the inner side of the front-skirt section 47, each adjacent to a respective skirt tab 51. In order to accommodate the fingers 29, the tabs 51 are each cut away in their region adjacent to the top wall 44, to thereby permit reception of the fingers in engagement with the inner surface of the front-skirt section and define an upwardly facing shoulder 59 located in position to engage with the depending end of the adjacent flnger upon upward movement of the top wall. It is best seen in FIGURE 3 that the fingers 29 are engage able with the upwardly facing shoulders 59 of the tabs 51 to resist opening movement of the top wall and skirt. However, as the fingers are somewhat resilient and flexible, the top wall may be manually opened by force sufiicient to deflect the fingers 29 from their abutting engagement with the shoulders 59. It will now be appreciated that the dust flaps 26 provide the additional function of carrying the fingers 29 which cooperate with the shoulders 59 to define locking means for the container.

In FIGURE 6 there will be observed a blank, preferably fabricated of a single sheet of waxed cardboard, or other suitable stilf, resilient bendable material. The blank of FiGURE 6 is formed with a main panel 10a of generally rectangular configuration bounded by parallel, front and rear score lines 11a and 41a, and parallel side score lines 16a extending forwardly and rearwardly between the front and rear score lines. A front panel 12a extends forward from the main panel 10a, being laterally coextensive with the latter and hingedly connected thereby by the score line 11a. On the forward edge of the front panel 12a is a flap 13a which is connected to the front panel by a score line 14a. The flap 13a is substantially laterally coextensive with the front panel 12a at the score line 14a and tapers forwardly toward its free edge remote from the latter score.

Extending laterally from each side edge of the main panel 100, substantially forwardly and rearwardly coextensive with the latter panel, is a side panel 170. That is, each side panel 17a is connected to the main panel 100 by a score 16a; and further, each side panel is defined by a score 12a, an outer score 27a parallel to the score 16a, and parallel forward and rearward scores 19a and 33a extending laterally between and at substantially right angles to the scores 16a and 27a.

Extending forward from each side panel 17a, and connected to the latter by the score 19a, is a front flap 18a. The front flaps 18:: are each laterally coextensive with its adjacent side panel 17a at the connecting score 19a and taper or converge forwardly toward their distal free edges 20a. In addition, each front flap 18a is formed with a score 21a located in spaced relation between the score 190 and edge 20a, and extending in substantial parallelism therewith.

A rear flap 34a extends rearward from each side panel 17a, being connected thereto by its rear score 33a. The rear flaps 34a are each substantially laterally coextensive with the adjacent side panel 17a at the score line 33a and taper rearward or outward therefrom toward the free fiap edge a. A score 36a is formed in each rear flap 34a extending parallel to the adjacent score 33a and located in spaced relation between the latter score and the free fiap edge 35a.

It will be noted that the front score 19a of the side panels 17a are spaced very slightly forward of the front score line 11a of the main panel 10a, while the rear score lines 330 of the side panels are spaced very slightly rearward of the rear score line 41a of the main panel. This construction enables the lower corners of the erected container to effectively resist leakage of liquid and is comprehended within the meaning of the side panels being substantially coextensive forwardly and rearwardly of the main panel.

A generally rectangular side flap 26a is forwardly and rearwardly coextensive with and connected to the outer side edge of each side panels 17a by the score line 27a. It will be observed that the front edge 28a of each side flap 26a is in substantial alignment with the front score line 19a of the adjacent side panel 17a; and further, that a forward extension or finger 29a projects forward from each side flap 26a at a location spaced laterally outward from the adjacent score 27a, and is connected to the associated side flap by a laterally extending score line 30a located slightly forward of the aligned score 19a and edge 28a.

Extending rearward from the rear score 41a of the main panel 10a is a back panel a, which is generally rectangular in shape substantially congruent to the front panel 12a and laterally coextensive with the main and front panels. A generally rectangular auxiliary panel 44a, substantially congruent to the main panel 10a, extends rearward from the back panel 40a, being connected to the latter by a score line 45a. In particular, the auxiliary panel 44a is defined within the laterally extending score line 45a, a laterally extending score line 46a rearward beyond and parallel to the score line 45a, and a pair of generally parallel score lines 49:: extending generally forwardly and rearwardly between the score lines 45a and 46a. In particular, it may be noted that the score lines 49a preferably diverge from each other slightly in the direction inward from the score line 46a toward the score line 45a. This further aids the side-skirt sections 48 of the set-up container to more closely engage the received side walls 17 when the lid is closed.

Extending from opposite side edges of the auxiliary panel 44a, and substantially coextensive therewith, are generally rectangular side flaps 48a. The side flaps 48a are connected to the auxiliary panel 44a by the creases or fold lines 49a, and may each advantageously be formed with a crease or score 53a extending generally forwardly and outwardly.

Extending from the rearward edge of each side flap 48a is a tab 51a which is connected to the adjacent side flap by a score line 59a. The tabs 51a are each cut away on their inner side to provide an edge 59a extending generally forwardly and rearwardly and located outward beyond the adjacent crease 49a.

A generally rectangular rear fiap 47a extends rearward from the auxiliary panel 44a, being laterally coextensive therewith, and is connected to the latter panel by the crease 46a. The flap 47a may be provided with a pair of parallel, laterally spaced, forwardly and rearwardly extending scores 54a, a medial score 5651 located between and extending parallel to the scores 5 m, and a laterally extending score 55a crossing the medial score 5641 and terminating at the scores 54a.

It is believed obvious that the elements of the blank are provided with reference numerals having the suffix a, and otherwise the same as reference numerals applied to corresponding parts of the container.

The subject container is readily adapted to be set up or erected by conventional packaging machinery, wherein the blank is provided with glue as required on the flaps 18a and 35a, and tabs 51a and folded along the proper score lines to adhesively secure the container in its set-up condition. The container may then be filled and closed, whereupon the locking fingers 29 engage with the tab shoulders 59 to retain the top wall 44 and its skirt 47, 48 in closed, sealing condition.

In opening the container, it is only necessary to raise the top wall 44 until the fingers 29 deflect sufiiciently to disengage from the shoulders 59, which permits free continued swinging movement of the top wall about its hinged connection. The contents of the container are then exposed and may be spoon removed, if desired. However, if it is desired to slice the contents of the container, it is necessary to further expose the contents. This may be quickly and easily accomplished by pulling the front securement flaps 18, their unsecured portions 23 providing convenient pull tabs, to disconnect the flaps from the front wall 12. The front wall is thereby released from its upstanding position for free downward and forward swinging movement to the position illustrated in FIGURE 2 Thereupon, the contents of the container may be conveniently sliced and removed. Also, the back securernent flaps 34 may also be disconnected from their securing engagement with the back wall 41} by pulling the unsecured tab portions 33. This serves to disconnect the side walls 17 from the back wall 46 and allow the latter to swing downward and rearward, and further expose the contents for slicing. In this condition, the side walls 17 may also be swung downward and outward, if desired. The container may be readily reclosed by merely swinging the front, back, and side walls into their previous, upstanding relation, and then swinging the top wall 44 into its closed position, whereupon the top-wall skirt 47, 48 will embrace the front and side walls to retain all of the walls in their desired upstanding relation.

FIGURES 7 to 13 of the drawings illustrate a modified form of container of the present invention having im- 7 proved locking abilities and in which the initial opening of the box after it is filled and closed is extremely difficult and the cover is securely held in its closed position. Additionally, in the embodiment of FIGURES 7 to 13, in-

iusive, subsequent reopcnings of the cover are more diificult than in the embodiment of FIGURE 1. This embodiment of the present invention is particularly useful when the container is used for ice cream and similar items which is stored, prior to sale, in a place readily accessible to the public. The rigid locking means of the container of this embodiment prevent the container from being easily opened during shipment or by a customer in the store or other place where the container is stored prior to the sale of the container.

The container of FIGURES 7 to 13, inclusive, is generally similar to that of FIGURE 1 with the difference residing solely in the construction of the locking tab and in the means for engaging the locking tab when the box is closed. The container of the present invention is formed from the blank illustrated in FIGURE 13 and comprises a base portion 60 of generally rectangular configuration having integrally secured thereto along fold lines at opposite edges thereof a front wall 61 and a rear Wall 62. Additionally, a pair of side walls 63, 63 are integrally formed with the base '60 and connected to the opposite sides thereof along fold lines. The front, rear and side walls of the container are folded upwardly relative to the base portion to form a generally rectangular body portion of the container and the walls are maintained in their erected position by means of glue flaps 64 secured tothe opposite sides of each side wall 63, 63. The glue flaps 64 each have a proximate portion 64a which is glued to the confronting portion of adjacent front or rear wall, and a distal portion 64b spaced from the side wall and separated from the proximate portion 64:: by means of a score line 64c. The distal portion 64b of each glue flap 64 is free or not glued to its adjacent confronting po tion of the front or rear wall and forms a pull tab which the user of the container may pull in order to separate the glue flaps from their adjacent front and rear walls to permit the container to be collapsed.

Each side wall 63 has a side wall dust flap 66 integrally connected to its upper edge portion along a fold line which is adapted to be folded inwardly to a position on top of the contents of the container, for example, as illustrated in FIGURE 9. Additionally, a dust flap 67 is integrally secured to the upper edge portion of the front wall 61 along a fold line, and the dust flap 67 may be folded inwardly to a position overlying the contents of the container. The dust flaps 66 and 67 prevent contamination of the product carried by the container of the present invention and also prevent the contents of the container from leaking out of the container.

In order to completely close the container, a top cover 68 is integrally connected to the upper edge of the rear wall 62 along a fold line and is adapted to be folded forwardly over the open upper end of the container to close the same. The top cover has side and front skirts 71 and 72, respectively, extending downwardly from the opposite side edges and front edge thereof which are operable to closely embrace and overlie the upper portions of the side walls and front wall of the container when the cover is closed. The side and front skirts 71 and 72 of the top cover are maintained in position extending generally perpendicularly to the plane of the top cover by means of glue flaps or tabs 73, 73 foldably connected to the forward edges of the side skirts 71, 71 and are adapted to inwardly overlie the opposite side portions of the front skirt 72 and be secured thereto, for example, by means of glue 1r the like.

In accordance with the present invention, means are provided to lock the cover in a closed position. This is accomplished, in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 7 to 13, by providing a locking tab 74 at the forward end of each side wall dust flap 66. Each locking tab 74 is foldably connected to the forward end of its associated side wall dust flap 66 along a scored fold line and the locking tabs are adapted, in the closed position of the container, to forwardly overlie the uper edge of the containcr front wall 61 and the glue flap 64-, as illustrated in FIGS. 9, l0 and 11. Additionally, each locking tab 74 has an endwise projection 74a thereon which projects outwardly beyond the container side wall 63 in the closed position of the box and is engaged within a slot opening 75 formed in the upper forward corner of the side skirts of the container cover adjacent to the front skirt, as illustrated in the drawings. By this construction, when the container cover is closed the locking tab extensions 74a, 74a are engaged within the slot openings 75, 75 at the opposite sides of the container to securely lock the cover in its closed position.

The container of the present embodiment also has a similar locking feature to that of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, inclusive. This additional locking arrangement is provided by interengagement of the cover glue flaps 73 with the locking tabs 74. When the cover is in its erected or setup position, the upper edge of the glue flaps 73, 73 terminate short of the top portion of the container cover a distance equal to the downward projection of the locking tabs 74. In this position of the cover, the lower surface of each locking tab 74 engages the upper surface of the adjacent glue flap 73, for example, as shown in FIGS. 10, 11 and 12, to cause an additional interlock between the cover and body portion of the container.

During the initial closing of the container, after the container has been filled, the front dust flap 67 is first folded downwardly on top of the contents of the container. Thereafter, the side dust flaps 66, 66 are folded downwardly on top of the front dust flap 67, for example, to the position shown in FIG. 9. Thereafter, the container cover is closed. During closing of the cover, the forward corners of the cover will engage the locking tabs 74, folding the same downwardly with respect to the side wall dust flaps and when the cover reaches its fully closed position the locking tab extension 74a Willpass outwardly through the slot opening 75 in the cover. At the same time, the lower edge of the locking tabs 74, 74 will engage over the upper edge of the glue flaps 73, 73 thereby securely locking the cover of the container in the closed position.

From the foregoing, it is seen that the present invention provides a container and blank therefor which fully accomplish their intended objects, and are well adapted to meet practical conditions of manufacture and use.

Although the present invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it is understood that certain changes and modifications may be made within the spirit of the invention and soopeof the appended claim.

I claim:

A container comprising a generally rectangular body portion having front and rear and side walls and an open upper end providing access to the container body portion, a cover member hingedly connected to the container rear wall and adapted to overlie and close the open end of the container, a skirt portion on said cover projecting downwardly therefrom in the closed position of the cover operable to closely embrace the outer upper ends of the container side and front walls, means defining an opening in said container cover skirt portion adjacent the junction between said container front and side walls, a dust flap foldably connected to each of said container side walls and projecting interiorly therefrom toward one another, a locking tab foldably connected to the forward portion of each of said dust flaps extending down-v wardly therefrom exteriorly of said container front wall adjacent the junction between said front and side walls,

an internal shoulder on said skirt facing upwardly and operable to be engaged under said locking tabs when said container cover is in said closed position, and a portion of said locking tabs projecting outwardly beyond the periphery of said front and side Walls and adapted to project through and interlock with said openings when said cover is in said closed position, the engagement of said locking tabs with said internal shoulder and with said openings operable to maintain said cover in said closed position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Winchester Jan. 5, 1892 Maguire Dec. 9, 1913 Stem Mar. 29, 1932 Adler May 10, 1938 Scherer Apr. 17, 1945 Bergstein Mar. 20, 1951 Frieders et al. May 1, 1951 Rendall et a1. June 12, 1951 Collura Dec. 30, 1952 Van Rosen Apr. 10, 1956 Barrington et al. Oct. 30, 1956 Dunning June 17, 1958 

